Wagon hitch for implements



Fb. 26, 1935. B, M, HYMAN 1,992,429

WAGON HITCH FOR IMPLEMENTS Filed Dec. 15, 1933 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 n n 1,992,4294 n" i r WAGON HITCH `FOR IMPLEMEN'IS` i Benjamin iMgHylnan,` Moline, Ill., assignor tolliternational Harvester Company, a corporation 4' n Application December 13,1963, VSeriaailhlo. 702,130 'v `s claims. ",(olg 28o-433.44)f` This invention relates to a wagon `hitch for implements. More particularly it -relates to `a hitch for drawing wagons in laterally offset` position along a harvester drawn by a tractor.

In the operation of tractor drawn harvesters in which Wagons or other wheeledv vehiclesfare utilized for receiving the harvested crop, hitches are `utilized for pulling the wagon alongside the harvester in a laterally offset position. Such hitches are particularly desirable to balance the offset portion of the harvester which must necessarily be positioned laterally of the tractor to avoid passing of the tractor over unharvested portions of the field. l `As the laterally extending elevator utilized'` in harvesters `of this general `typen are usually fixed in'p'osition, itis necessary invorder to `completely fillra wagonr to move the wagonlongitudinallyv as successive portions are iilled.`

In implementsjof thetype above referredj to it is also necessary at times,` particularly in harfrosting rowcrops, to change the offset position of the harvester withlrespect to thetractor to `take care of diierentjwidth spacings of the rows. `euch anadjustment `islmost easilytaken care of by angular movement of the draft portion of the implement frame, such as disclosed and claimed ,the United States Patent 1,906,606, May 2, k1 33.` laterally extending wagonV hitch, which is conveniently `carried by said draft portion, is also angled, and'its hitch point must' becorrectedgby adjustment. i f

The principalnobject` of the present invention isto provide 1an expansible or collapsible hitch which may be remotely controlled from the op`` `erators'position on the tractor to provide for shiftingv the receiving wagon longitudinally of` the delivering elevator.l Another principal objectis to provide an adjusting yrneans ona hitch carried by a draft frame to `compensate for adjustment of the draft frame for varying the offset position ofthe harvester. These objects and others, which Will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, are accomplished bya vconstruction such as shown in the attached draw-v ing, inwhich: l ,l n A, n Figure 1 is a top plan view of a corn harvester drawn by a tractor, the rear end of which is shown, and provided with a wagon-for receiving the harvested material;

Figure 2 shows the same `machine, las, Figure 1` Withthe wagon embodying n the invention in its rearmost adjustedposition;` Y r V 'r YFigure 3r is an enlarged-detail showing'a` latch `slidable connection'of the wagon tongue on one` ally extendingelevator 15Vis provided for convey- When such an adjustment is made, the" means* Vforfremotely controlling the folding `or collapsing of the Wagon hitch; 5 f" f` Figure `4 isy an enlarged detail showing the connection of the wagon drawing chain with'va member of the hitch;` A

Figure 5 isan; enlarged elevation showing the collapsible Vcompression member of the hitch structure; and, 'i r n f Figure- 6 is an enlarged `detail .showing the' of the hitch structure members. v n

In the drawingg'acorn Vpicker having a frame structure 10 including a` transverse portion Y11 and wheels` 12 `carried atthe ends of said trans'- 'verse portion has' been shown. `,Said cornpfker i is also` provided With transversely spaced `gathering shoes 13 for guiding the stalks intothethroat ofjthe` picker;A `A'husking 'j unit 14 may be futilized on 'the picker and an upwardly and latering the harvested materiaL'which, inthe'inachinel illustrated, comprisesA ears of c orn.k draft frame 16 consists of a portion'l'gpivoted to the frame structure 10 of the corn picker` on a vertical axis substantially inaligninent with vthe gathering portion of the picker, `,a portionA 18 detachably'secured to fa bracket V19 secured to the" frame structure 10 adjacent theinnerwheel, and a connecting member, 20'which` joins the forwardly 4converging ends of the side portions .and` forms 'a'means for pivotally connectingA the `draft frame to thedrawbar 21 of a tractor 22.*."

A` plurality ofopenings 23 are `provided in the attachingbracket 19arranged onthe circumference of va circle having its center on the `pivot point of theother side of,V `the draft frame on the frame structure 10. These openings provide for n angularly adjusting the draftframe 16 with respect tothe frame structure `10 of the com picker. It will be understood'that this adjustment changes 40 the laterally offset position of lthe corn picker withrespect tothe tractor. rThe construction `of the draft frame and theharvester frame struc- .ture have been showndiagrammatically, refer- M ence being madeabovej to a patent which dis- "5 closesfand' elaims'such aconstruction;

The siderportion 18 ofthe draft frame includes verticauy "spaced bars, as shown lini-ligure `5. Angle bars A24 andV 25, mounted,` respectively,

above and below said side portion 18 forwardly of A pipe 28 is slidably mounted between the plates 26 and 27, which, as shown in Figure 3, are mounted on both sides of the bars 24 and 25. A key 29 at the inner end of the pipe 28 limits the outward movement of said pipewith respect to the bars 24 and 25. A plurality of openings 80 are formed in the pipe 28 to provide means forengagement therewith of a latch 31. Said latch is mounted on a support 32 extending laterally from one of the plates 26. Said plate, together with a bent-over flange 33 on the member 32, is provided vvith aligned openings through which the latch`31 slidably extends. A springyflv seated against the stop 35 on the latch 31 `and against Vthe flange 33 holds the latch resiliently against the pipe 28 and engages said latch with one of the openings 30 when said opening cornes intol alignment-therewith. A lever 36 pivoted on an extension of the member 82 is pivotally connected to the latch 31 for withdrawing `said latch' 36 and extends to a location within reach'of the operator on the tractor, whereby the latch 31 may be remotely controlled. n

Apair of spaced plates 38 rigidly secured to the' pipe 28 at its free end provide means for v pivotally connecting said pipe with a second pipe 39, which forms'the tension member of the hitch. Said pipe 39 is adjust-ably connected to a member 40 by a plurality of openings in said member, whereby its longitudinal position relative to the p'ipe'39 may be adjusted. `"Ihe member l0 is pivotally connected on a vertical axis to the side portion 18 of the'draftrframe 16. Although both the'compression portion and the tension portion of the laterally extended draft hitch consists of two sections, thehitch may be referred to as having a compression.` member, the length of which may be adjusted by a remotely controlled latch, a tension member, the length of whichfmaybe manually adjusted to provide for variation in offset. i

The pipe39 extends outwardly rbeyond its pivotal connection with the pipe 28 tov form a sup-y f port for a wagon tongue 41. Said tongue slidably extends 'through a yoke 42 secured at the outer `endof the pipe 39. The weight of the tongue is carried on said pipe. Due to the double bar construction of the compression portion ofthe hitch frame, a truss beam effect is obtained which prolvidesksuflicient strength for supporting the wagon tongue 4l at the outer end of the pipe 39. A chain 43'. connected atlongitudinally spaced points to the tongue Lil contains intermediate its ends a large 'ringed through which the pipeV 39 passes.

By this construction, the tongue Ll1 is held against longitudinal movement with respect to the hitch, and draft means is provided forthe wagon. Y The tongue 41 is part of aconventional wagon 4.5. It

isto be understood that any wheeled vehicle which is `suitably constructedcould be usedin the same manner asawagon. y Y y yIn the operation of a rowcrolp harvesteras above described, the draft frame 16 isadjusted on the frame structure 10 to place gathering shoes 13 in .proper position for `.harvesting row crops.

It is desirablel that theY tractor operatev along a certain line of movement with respect to the rows; With this position determined, the .draft frame is then adjusted with the gathering shoes Ain proper alignment with the rows. At the same time Vthat the angular adjustmentof the draft Vframe is made. the hitch is also adjusted by relative movement of the member 40 along the pipe 39 to locate the wagon in the proper offset position. It is desirable to balance the complete draft load of the tractor as much as possible, to prevent side draft which -results in the harvester drifting away from the rows being harvested.

With the harvester in operation, as shown in Figure 1, with the wagon in forward position, the rear end ofthe wagon is first filled from the elevator 15. As said'portion is ll'ed, the operator, either by stopping the tractor or in some cases with the tractor in operation, releases Athe latch 3l by remote control means 37, whereby the pipe 28 telescopes into the truss portion of the compression member. VBy this means the wagon hitch is collapsed, moving the support for the wagon tongue rearwardly. .Any amount of movement may be brought about depending upon the telescoping of the pipe 28. In Figure 2 the hitch is shown in completely collapsed position with the pipe 28 telesccped in the truss portion of the compression member. In this position thev elevator i5 delivers to the front of the wagon.

In the consideration of this structure, it should also be noted thatbybacking the tractor and L rin either position by operating theV tractor to draw or push the implement. v v y v It `is to be understood that applicant.: has shown and .describedV only a preferred embodiqment of his improved wagonrhitch for harvesters and that heclaims as his invention all modifications of the same falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l i

l. A wagon hitch comprising, in combination with a power propelled frame structure, a collapsible hitch frame extendinghlaterally yfromsaid frame structure, meansfori'supporting a wagon tongue at the outer end of saidframe, a latch 5 device for holding said frame in a plurality of adjusted positions, and means for `operatingsaid vlatch, device. 4

2. A wagon hitch comprising, in combination with a power propelled frame structure, a co1- lapsible hitch frame extending laterally .from said frame structiue,means for supporting a wagon tongue at the outer end of said'frame, a latch device for holdingsaid `frame in a plurality of adjustedpositions, and remote Icontrol means for manually operating said latch device; 8. A wheeled implement frame, a draft frame rigidly secured to said frame for angular adjustment about a vertical axis with respecttheref to, said frame adapted to be pivotally secured t0 the drawbar of a tractor, a wagon hitch secured to the draft frame and extending laterally therefrom, said draft frame being collapsible to shift Vthe wagon in a fore and aft direction, and means for controlling the collapse of said hitch from the yrrperators station on the tractor.

4. A wheeled implement frame, a draft frame rigidly secured to said frame for angularadjustment about a vertical axis with respect thereto, said frame adapted to be pivotally secured to the drawbar ofa tractor, a wagon hitch secured to the draft frame and extending laterally therefrom, said hitch being adjustabletocorrect its position upon angular adjustment of the, draft frame, said draft frame beingcollapsible to shiftthe Wagon in a fore and aft direction, and means v frame on a vertical axis and extending forwardly and laterally therefrom, said structure including a telescopic compression member, a latch on said member engageable in a plurality of positions to hold the structure in a plurality of telescoped positions, and means for securing a wagon tongue to the outer end of the hitch structure.

6. A wagon hitch device for a tractor drawn harvester comprising, in combination with the tractor, a wheel supported harvester frame pivotally connected to the tractor, a wagon located laterally of said frame having draft means extending forwardly therefrom, a telescoping hitch structure connected to the harvester frame and to said draft frame, and latchmeans incorporated in the hitch structure, saidstructure being operable by movement of the tractor upon actuation of the latch means to move the position of the wagon longitudinally of the harvester frame.

7. A wagon hitch device fora. tractor drawn harvester comprising, in combination with the tractor, a wheel supported harvester frame pivotally connected to the tractor, a wagon located laterally of said frame having draft means vextending forwardly therefrom, means for conveying harvested material from the harvester to said wagon, a hitch structure connected to the harvester frame and to said draft frame, andrtele-` p scoping and latch means incorporated in the hitch structure, said structure being operable by movement of the tractor -upon actuation of the 8. A` wagon hitch comprising, in combination with a frame structure, a telescopic compression member pivotally connected on a vertical axis to said frame structure and extending laterally and forwardly therefrom, a tension member connected to the frame structure forwardly of the compression member and connected to the outer endof said member, means for supporting a wagon tongue at the outer end. of said members,` a latch means mounted on the telescopic member for adjusted positions, and` manually operable remote control means for releasingsaid latch device.

BENJAMIN M. HYMAN. 30

latch means to move the position of thewagon i l `longitudinallyoi the harvester frame.

holding said member in any one of a pluraity of L25 

